A sense of belonging starts with a home
Having her own home was a turning point for Sophal in a life marked by hardships including the death of her husband. She helped construct her home together with volunteers during the 2018 Legacy Build in Cambodia’s Kandal province.
Sophal’s homeownership journey started at a particularly difficult period in her life. In 2018, her husband was in very poor health and her family had to make ends meet while paying for his medical expenses. He passed away at the end of 2018. Then Sophal’s family had lived in a wooden hut beside a local police station. With three young children, Sophal and her husband felt vulnerable in the inadequate shelter. During stormy weather, their sleep would be frequently interrupted by rainwater coming in through the leaky roof. With no access to a toilet, her family had to ask for permission to use the toilet in the police station.
Sophal says, “Because we were poor, we faced discrimination. We had to take a microfinance loan of US$3,000 that we’re still repaying today.”
She makes a living by selling lotus flowers from her small stall at the foot of Oudong mountain in Kandal province. It has been her source of livelihood even during the 2018 Legacy Build when 64 international volunteers built alongside Sophal’s family and others.
Then and now
Her home is just a short ride away on her motorbicycle. Sophal has kept her home neat and tidy with a small garden. She says, “I feel I can better cope with the hardships in life now that we have a secure home.”
Two of her adult children are working at a nearby garment factory, contributing to the total household income of US$250 per month. Sophal plans to completely repay the microfinance loan in the next two years.
With their savings, her family could build an extension so Sophal’s eldest daughter and her family could live next door. They can also afford to spend money on home maintenance.
“Having a home of my own marked the biggest change in my life. I will focus on earning money so as to support my nine-year-old granddaughter’s education. I hope she can complete her studies to improve her future prospects.”
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Eight years after moving in, Sophal said her family is friendly with other families who are also Habitat homeowners. She shares, “We feel a sense of belonging in this community.”
Since 2003, Habitat for Humanity Cambodia has been working with families like Sophal to build or improve a place they call home. Through multisector partnerships, Habitat builds resilient homes with communities, act as a voice for policy changes and implements programs to make housing markets more inclusive. Learn more. https://habitatcambodia.org/en/